Gridlock Economy

A 304 page book by Michael Heller
Perseus Books  - 2008

• A “commons” is a resource that everyone shares. The “tragedy of the commons” happens when too many people use a common resource, thereby destroying it.
• Societies often try to avert the tragedy of the commons by creating private ownership – “anticommons.” 
• A private owner of an anticommons may block the public from using it.
• The underuse of a resource limits its benefit to society as much as its overuse does. Anticommons harm society by stifling innovation and creativity.
• Learning to see the hidden costs of underuse is a key step in fixing gridlock. Lawmakers can end a black market by removing the reasons for its existence.  Informal organizations can protect commons by imposing their own rules on users. Voluntary cooperation and philanthropy can solve some gridlock problems.